I’ve always felt like veterinarians are what they are because they love animals. But being kind to your dog is not the only thing you need to consider when deciding on a vet for your best friend.

Some people think that a good veterinarian is getting hard to come by. It is getting harder to find the country vet who knows all about you and your dog and can tell you all of the local gossip. And vets who offered discounts for multiple pets and client loyalty are disappearing.

In their place we have vets with more sophisticated equipment, but often less time for you and your dog. He or she may see lots of clients every day and be part of a large practice. You may not even see the same vet each time you go to the offices.

How can you find a good veterinarian these days? Here are a few tips.

Ask Around

Word of mouth is still one of the best ways to find a good vet. If you have friends with pets ask them who they use and whether they like them or not. Ask them about their experiences with the vet. Have they been satisfied or are they looking for a new vet? How is the vet with their dog? (Or cat or whatever!) You can learn a lot just by talking to a friend.

Make A List

Make a list of some of the things that are important to you in a vet. Do you need a vet who specializes? Probably not, unless you are a breeder or you have a dog with a particular health problem, but if you do need a specialist, start looking now. They can be hard to find.

Do you need a vet who will write prescriptions for you so you can buy heartworm medication online? This can be a bone of contention with some vets, so you may have to try several vets before you find one who is willing to do this for you. It’s certainly worth pursuing because heartworm medication usually costs twice as much at the vet’s office.

Do you need a vet who handles his own emergencies? This is becoming rare. You may have to look far and wide for a vet like this. Most vets now send their emergency cases to a vet emergency clinic at nights and on the weekends.

Decide what is most important to you and look for a vet who can meet your needs.

Check Them Out

Call vet offices near you and talk to the receptionists. Better yet, go by and meet them in person. Discuss billing arrangements. Veterinary care can be very expensive, especially if your dog has a serious problem that requires surgery and post-op care. What is the vet’s policy about payment? Does he or she require you to pay upfront? Can you make payments? Will they turn your dog away if you can’t pay for the entire procedure ahead of time? These are important considerations and it’s best to know how your vet handles these matters before your dog is in a life or death situation.

Pet Insurance?

Does the vet take pet health insurance? Some vets do take health insurance for pets now, but not all of them will. If you have pet insurance, which vets near you will take it?

What About Their Hours?

Find out the days and office hours for the vets near you. Do they fit your schedule? Some vets are closed on Saturdays or may only be open half a day. And they my not stay open late through the week. If those are the best times for you, will you be able to work with their schedule? You can have the greatest vet in the world just down the street from you, but if you have to work when they’re open it won’t do your dog any good.

Is The Vet Accredited?

The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) has a listing of state veterinary medical associations. You can find veterinarians who are listed with these state medical associations. This is an excellent place to look for accredited vets in your area.

Use these tips to find a vet that works for you, and get the peace of mind you need when it’s time to visit the vet.

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Dog Training Tips

If you have just started training your dog, you should see to it that you are giving commands that have one syllable only. For example, instead of using sit down, you should use sit, so that it will be easier for your dog to understand and remember.

Use one syllable commands at first

Calling your dog and then punishing him is not a good practice, since he has just followed your command. This can make him have second thoughts about approaching you whenever you call him. Thus, only reprimand your dog whenever he does something bad.

Never punish your dog after calling him

Dogs can get easily distracted. In other words, if you want his full attention on the trick or task that you want him to perform, then you should make sure that you are doing it in a place free from distractions. Keep in mind that your other pets can distract him, as well as other people in your household.

Train your dog in a place free from distractions

Playing with your dog is just as important as training your dog. Play with him whenever you can, so that he can feel that being with you is not just all about learning new things, but about having some fun as well.

Play with your dog

Walking your dog will make him happy. It also ensures that he gets enough exercise, which is important to his health. Walking on a regular basis will make your dog see it as a routine that he will look forward to each day.

Take your dog for a walk

Dogs love treats like dog biscuits. When training your pet, you should offer treats as a reward whenever your dog is trying hard to try to follow your command. Make sure that the kind of treats you have to offer are something that he really likes.

Offer Treats

Be positive at all times when it comes to training your dog. A positive attitude will mean a lot for your pet, since he can feel your vibes when you become frustrated or angry. Being positive means that you have to praise him whenever he does something good. Aside from that, you should also believe that your pet can do it, so as to encourage a more positive atmosphere.

Be Positive

Do not get a puppy or a dog for a pet unless you are fully committed to caring for it. Without commitment, you can never train your pet effectively. By being committed, as well as by loving your pet, you will have the necessary drive to do what needs to be done, in order to train him well.